MADISON - Some of the Republicans considering running against U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin showed support for Tuesday's move to end or scale back Obamacare.

"You've got to address Obamacare because it is collapsing," said businessman Eric Hovde.

He said he would "absolutely, 100%" vote to launch debate on repealing Obamacare, or the Affordable Care Act. Republicans in the Senate voted to open that debate Tuesday, but it remained unclear whether they had enough votes to give final approval to any legislation changing former President Barack Obama's namesake health care law.

Hovde came in second in the 2012 Republican primary to run against Baldwin and plans to decide this fall on whether he will run again.

Also considering a run is business consultant Kevin Nicholson, who has the support of a super PAC that has raised $3.5 million. In a statement, he said he hoped the Senate would repeal Obamacare.

"Republicans have been promising for seven years to repeal Obamacare, and it's time they deliver on that promise," Nicholson said in his statement. "Hopefully, today's Senate vote will be a step towards repeal, but I'm always nervous when politicians get together. Only time will tell with what they're up to in DC, but I know we need more competition and market forces in health care — and less government."

State Sen. Leah Vukmir (R-Brookfield), another potential candidate, did not return a call Tuesday.

In an appearance last month on WISN-TV's "Upfront with Mike Gousha," Vukmir called an initial health care proposal by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) a “great starting point.” But she did not explicitly back that proposal in that appearance.

State Rep. Dale Kooyenga (R-Brookfield), a fourth possible candidate, could not be reached on Tuesday. He told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel last month that his preference would be to entirely repeal Obamacare but that he would be willing to support McConnell’s proposed health care changes because his plan was “better than the status quo.”

Tuesday's vote on Obamacare comes as Republicans gear up to run against Baldwin, who like all Democrats voted against opening debate on overhauling Obamacare.

"The people of Wisconsin did not send me to Washington to take people's health care away," Baldwin wrote in a Facebook post on Tuesday. "We should be working together to make things better, not worse. Let’s work to stabilize the market, make health care more affordable, and take on drug companies and rising prescription drug costs."